Blog Posts by Subject: Children's Literature

Authors Mara Rockliff, Brian Floca, Sophie Blackall and editor Nicole Raymond sat down with Youth Materials Specialist Betsy Bird to discuss the idiosyncrasies of kid lit pictures. But first, they each gave a presentation about illustration and their books.Read More ›

In our final exhibition feature, Maira Liriano, Curator of our Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, discusses the importance of diverse literature, especially for young readers of color.Read More ›

The witch trials are a circus. The afflicted girls, as well as many local residents, attend the trials. The accused witches are not appointed counsel, and their words of defense fall on impatient ears.Read More ›

The Declaration of Independence was penned in 1776. This is Philadelphia in 1778, in the midst of the Rebels and the Loyalists. 14-year-old Becca Syng is sent to work and live as a maid with the spoiled Peggy Shippen, future wife of Benedict Arnold.Read More ›

Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter were living a fulfilled and happy life in Virginia. They wanted to turn their relationship into the committed partnership of marriage, but in 1958 in Virginia, interracial marriage was illegal.Read More ›

Kwame Alexander's visit came less than a week after his most recent novel, The Crossover, became the recipient of the 2015 Newbery Medal, the American Library Association’s the top award given to "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."Read More ›

Eleven-year-old Harriet Whitehead is hired to write letters for a blind woman on a Virginia cotton plantation in 1830. There, she meets 14-year-old Violet, a half-black and half-white girl who becomes her soul sister. Read More ›

On view at the Mulberry Street Library on the Children's Floor are the whimsical illustrations of artist Hsaio-Chi Chang. Her work references known classics such as The Little Prince, as well as her own vivid imaginarium of characters inspired by animals and dreams. I spoke with the artist recently about her work. Read More ›